Marlins continue housecleaning, flip shortstop Yuriel Escobar to Rays

December 05, 2012|The Sports Xchange

Yunel Escobar's stint with the Marlins is over before it began.

Weeks after he was acquired by Miami in a trade that sent five high-priced players to the Toronto Blue Jays, Escobar was traded again Tuesday night. He went to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for minor league middle infielder Derek Dietrich.

The trade saves the cost-conscious Marlins $5 million (Escobar's 2013 salary). However, it's possible Escobar's exit also was hastened by the same desire to prevent controversy among the local Hispanic community that contributed to the firing of manager Ozzie Guillen after the season.

Escobar was suspended for three games late last season after he wrote a homophobic spur in Spanish on his eye-black strips. Guillen became a polarizing figure in Miami after he made comments that praised Fidel Castro.

"We did a lot of homework on Yunel and believe he's going to fit in really well in our clubhouse," Rays executive vice president Andrew Friedman said, according to the Tampa Bay Times. "It's a calculated risk we feel will work out well."

Escobar figures to take over at shortstop in Tampa Bay. Rays veteran Ben Zobrist, previously a second baseman and right fielder, played shortstop for much of last season.

Escobar, 30, played the past 2 1/2 seasons in Toronto after opening his career with 3 1/2 seasons as a member of the Atlanta Braves. This year, he hit .253 with a .300 on-base percentage, nine homers and 51 RBI in 145 games. Over his career, Escobar is a .282 hitter with a .353 on-base percentage, 53 homers and 298 RBI in 784 games.

Beyond 2013, Escobar's contract includes club options for 2014 and 2015, both at $5 million.

"We feel he really helps solidify our infield defense, which will be a real strength next year," Friedman said, according to the Times.

Dietrich, 23, split last season between high Class A Charlotte (Port Charlotte, Fla.) and Double-A Montgomery (Ala.). He hit a combined .279 with a .338 on-base percentage, a .457 slugging percentage, 14 homers and 75 RBI while playing 75 games at shortstop and 51 at second base. He was a second-round draft pick in 2010 out of Georgia Tech.

NOTES, QUOTES

--OF Juan Pierre, who recently signed a one-year, $1.6 million contract, is in line to start the majority of games in left field in 2013, baseball operations president Larry Beinfest said.

Beinfest added that Justin Ruggiano would compete for the center field job with Bryan Petersen and Gorkys Hernandez, among others.

Although Beinfest didn't discuss where Logan Morrison would play, Morrison -- Miami's left fielder in 2012 -- is expected to move to first base.

--RHP Carl Pavano said he would love to return to the Marlins. His agent reached out to the team and planned to meet with Marlins officials in Nashville during the winter meetings.

Pavano had his best season with the Marlins in 2004, when he went 18-8 with a 3.00 ERA. However, he made just 11 starts for the Twins last year because of shoulder problems. He said his shoulder is fine now, and he plans to start a throwing program in the second week of December.

"Obviously I had some issues last year, but I've been able to put those behind me. I'm looking forward to continuing my workouts and seeing what the offseason brings me," he told The Palm Beach Post.

--RHP Jose Ceda and OF/1B Logan Morrison are on track to be ready for spring training, baseball operations president Larry Beinfest said Nov. 29. Ceda is coming back from Tommy John surgery, and Morrison is recovering from right knee surgery.

--The team added four prospects to its 40-man roster, a move that protects those players during the Rule 5 draft that will take place Dec. 6 on the final day of baseball's winter meetings.

The players are: OF Marcell Ozuna, OF Kyle Jensen, C Kyle Skipworth and LHP Edgar Olmos. All four will participate in major league spring training camp.

Ozuna, 22, hit .266/.328/.476 with 24 homers and 95 RBI in 124 games for high Class A Jupiter last season.

Jensen, 24, batted .234/.338/.452 with 24 homers and 84 RBI over 132 games with Class AA Jacksonville in 2012.

Skipworth, 22, produced a .217/.284/.414 line with 21 homers and 63 RBI in 116 games for Jacksonville this year.

Olmos, 22, went a combined 1-6 with a 3.74 ERA in 33 appearances (14 starts) for Jupiter and Jacksonville last season.

--OF Christian Yelich and OF Kyle Jensen were named to the Arizona Fall League's top prospects team. Both are projected to open the 2013 season at Class AA Jacksonville.

--RHP Tom Koehler was scheduled to hold a charity baseball camp Dec. 1 at Marlins Park. The camp was to raise money for victims of Hurricane Sandy.

Koehler, a New York native who has friends and relatives in the hard-hit areas of Long Island, expected to get help from his teammates. Guest camp instructors were to include OF Juan Pierre, RHP Alex Sanabia, LHP Brad Hand and retired 1B/OF Jeff Conine.